Tyler Sutherland | The Flint JournalSteve Erickson of Gladwin waits for his flight to Atlanta to visit family at Bishop International Airport in Flint on Christmas Eve.

FLINT, Michigan — Santa was good to some last-minute holiday travelers flying in and out of Flint this year.

Crowds at Bishop International Airport in Flint and on the nearby roads were thin on the morning of Christmas Eve, one of the busiest traveling days of the year.

Saginaw native Jerry Mounger was shocked at how quickly he was able to get his paperwork and continue on to the gate. Mounger, 55, was in the area visiting his mom for the holiday and was heading back home to Georgia for Christmas.

“I’m from Atlanta — the world’s busiest airport,” he said. “This is a breeze.”

Holiday travel in Michigan is projected to increase by 7 percent this year over last year.

An estimated 2.9 million Michigan residents will travel 50 miles or more from home during the upcoming Christmas holiday period, according to AAA’s latest travel survey.

AAA Michigan President Steve Wagner said it’s good to see so many Michiganians traveling this holiday season, even amid a poor economy.

Tyler Sutherland | The Flint JournalBeth Knapp-Reed tries to get her 2-year-old daughter, Sydney, to put her coat on before going outside at Bishop International Airport in Flint. The two were traveling from Philadelphia with Knapp-Reed's husband, Eric, to visit family near Lansing.

“After a challenging year in 2009, a modestly improved economic environment and pent-up demand resulted in more of us traveling this year,” he said in a statement. “The year-end holidays will continue this travel increase.”

Most Michigan travelers will go by car, truck or van to their destinations this year, while 5 percent are expected to travel by air.

The year-end holiday travel period ends Jan. 2, according to the survey.

Travelers at Bishop Airport on Friday said they didn’t find any problems with airport security.

Beth Knapp-Reed, who flew into Flint from Philadelphia, said she was thankful for no hassles, especially as she managed her restless 2-year-old daughter, Sydney.

“We had no problems,” she said. “Got through security fine. We got here on time and all the bags made it.”

Gladwin resident Steve Erickson said he was grateful there weren’t any crowds as he waited to board a plane to Atlanta to visit family — but wondered how long it would last.

“There’s a lot of people out there, the parking lot was packed full,” he said. “It took forever to find a spot.”